The Chestatee girls basketball program is going to live and die this season with its ability to make 3-point shots, says its coach Web Daniel.

And after missing eight straight in the third period, the Lady War Eagles (3-1) made enough to get back in Tuesday's game with North Forsyth, but still lost 56-48 in Gainesville.

Chestatee's Erin Clifford scored 18, including back to back 3-point baskets early in the fourth period to narrow a deficit, once as big as 10 in the second half, down to 42-36 with 5:20 remaining in the game.

With the Lady War Eagles rallying, North Forsyth (3-1) freshman Caroline Bowns hit a clutch 3-pointer, which her coach Erik Herrick said was the play of the game, and finished with a game-high 20 points.

"She's a young kid, in fact, we didn't run a play to her all night," Herrick said.

North Forsyth completed the sweep with a 78-53 win in the boys game.

Savannah Long also hit a 3-pointer for Chestatee, immediately after Clifford's pair of long baskets, for her only points of the night and shaved the North Forsyth lead down to 44-39.

Then Clifford chipped in her final points of the game with an easy basket from underneath the goal, drawing the Lady War Eagles to within 44-41.

However, the Lady Raiders were able to close it out with some strong shooting from Bowns and consistent free throwing shooting from a host of players.

Not only did Bowns hit a 3-pointer but also a pair of free throws to build North Forsyth's lead back up to 48-43.

Kim Blake and Lochlain Corliss also knocked down a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter to preserve its win.

North Forsyth's biggest lead of the night came with a basket from Bowns, who was wide open in the lane for the shot to make the score 34-24.

After missing eight straight 3-pointers to open the second half, Chestatee knocked down its first basket with a jump shot from Bridgette Kelly with 2:10 left in the third.

Early in the game, Chestatee took control with a 6-0 run early in the first.

Maegan Kenimer scored a couple quick baskets early for the Lady War Eagles and finished with a team high 19 points and six rebounds.

Chestatee visits Lakeview Academy at 4 p.m. on Saturday. North Forsyth plays host to Alpharetta at 6 p.m. Friday in Coal Mountain.

NORTH FORSYTH BOYS 78, CHESTATEE 53: Leading 35-33 at halftime, the Raiders (2-2) went on a 12-3 scoring run in the third quarter and outscored the War Eagles (0-4) 27-10 for the period.

North Forsyth's Chris Bureau was the catalyst for the run with 10-consecutive points for the Raiders, including a pair of reverse layups. He finished the game with a team-high 16.

"I don't think we could have played much worse," said War Eagles coach Gary Barnes.

Coming out of halftime, Trevor Pulliam (12 points) proceeded to drive the lane for a pair of baskets. The key for North Forsyth was the fact it made 12 of its 19 shots in the paints in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Chestatee only had six shots inside in the same time frame.

"We created a lot of 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 situations in the third quarter and converted," said Raiders coach Brian Moon, who took over a program that went 3-20 last season. "We were very opportunistic."

Caleb Knost also got into the action with a basket underneath the goal to push the lead to 45-37, then Bureau started his personal scoring tear when he went up against a Chestatee player and grabbed a steal from around midcourt, then took it to the basket and scored.

Bureau's reverse layup was the final basket in his scoring run and came at a point when the game was firmly in control with a 57-40 lead.

Chestatee opened the game on a hot streak and an 11-2 lead. North Forsyth promptly responded with a 15-2 run of its own to finish out the first quarter and take a 17-13 lead. Keelan Passmore led the War Eagles with 12 points.